Seeking info on crash of He111P-2 WNr2437 in the Antwerp area probably in mid-May 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

A new photo has surfaced of the badly smashed tail (no rear fuselage) of an He111P-1 or P-2, most likely W.Nr.2437, that appears to have been badly shot up by flak or fighters before it crashed during the Western Campaign. The bomber appears to have broken up at altitude and the the very end of the tail, including the fin, rudder and horizontal stabilizer broke off and fell to the ground. The rest of the wreckage, probably in very poor condition, must have fallen nearby. Hand lettered on the back of the photo is "Antwerp" Belgium. There is no useful background for identification purposes. The crew would have either had to have bailed out or would have been killed. As most of you know, LW records during the Western Campaign period do not record W.Nr. with a/c loss data. W.Nr.2437 shows no history entries, which indicates that it was probably lost prior to the beginning of the practice of entering W.Nr. with loss data, which started later in 1940.

By a process of elimination, we have found these three as the most likely candidates:

"10 May 1940: 6./KG27 Heinkel He111P-2. Shot down by S/Lt Goumy, Sgt Lagrange of GC 6/1, and P/O Dini of No.607 Squadron, during sortie to attack rail targets around Ghent, and crashed 2 km north-west of Munkzwalm (Belgium) 5.50 p.m. FF Uffz Heinz Zimmermann, HB Uffz. Günther Wackerhagen, BM Uffz Horst Börnicke, and BF Uffz Felix Beinhoff all killed. Aircraft 1G+GP 100% write-off."

"11 May 1940: 2./KG27 Heinkel He111P-2. Shot down near Tienen (Belgium) during sortie to Antwerp and possibly one of those attacked by Sgt Allard and S/L Oliver of No. 85 Squadron near Maastricht p.m. FF Fw Franz Ratzing and BM Fw Wilhelm Föcking both captured wounded, BO Fw Werner Efselmann and BF Uffz Jonny Schulz both captured unhurt – all later released. Aircraft 1G+HK 100% write-off."

Note: did this crew possibly bail out?

"13 May 1940: Stab II./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Attacked by Adj Hôtellier, Lt Weiss, and Sgt Joire of GC I/4 between Wuestwezel and St Leonhard during sortie to bomb troop concentrations at Ghent. Also hit by AA fire and crashed at ‘Nollekens’, north-east of Brecht (Belgium), 6.30 p.m. BO Oberlt Erwin Schacht (Gruppennavigationsoffizier) killed, BM Hauptgefr Walter Peil, and BF Gefr Rudolf Winkelmann (both of 6 Staffel) also killed, FF Oberlt Erich von Werthern (Gruppenadjutant) believed baled out and captured wounded. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Does anyone have other possible photos or info about the loss of W.Nr.2437, or any of these three a/c above, which might help determine the correct identity of this aircraft? I know that this is a long shot, but we've solved tougher mysteries that this before.

[Matti Salonen]

According to GQM data (dated 29 Sep 1940) He 111 H-2, WNr. 2437, V4+SW was destreyed on 26 Sep 1940 at Rosieres.

Matti

[Larry Hickey]

Matti,

My info, via "Merlin," is that there is an overlap between WNr. 2414 - 2438 He 111H-1/2 from Arado Warnemünde and WNr. 2424 - 2519 He 111P/D from Heinkel Marienehe. You are correct that He 111H-2 WNr. 2437 was lost by 6./KG 1 near Rosieres in France. However, there is no data on the fate of He 111P-1 WNr. 2437. Other readings of the W.Nr., 2457 or 2497 have histories that exclude them from consideration.

[Bertrand H]

Hi Larry,

Please - please correct the denomination of the unit for the French Armée de de l'Air ; there are ANY unit written like this GC 6/1 ; it does not exist ! Readers of BofT&N were abused by this English writing !

Bertrand

[Stig Jarlevik]

Larry

I can only refer you to the eminent article by Volker Koos in Jet & Prop 2/2010.
The Arado built He 111 H-1/H-2 were WNr 02314 etc while the Rostock-Marienehe built P/D models were WNr 2424 and up.

Cheers
Stig

[Larry Hickey]

Bertrand,

I am aware of the issue.This will be rectified within our system when we get ready to publish.

[Larry Hickey]

Stig,

Since I'm no expert on W.Nr., I'll have to kick this back to "Merlin" for his comment.

[Pieter H]

Hi Larry,
I have as additional comment on the 6./KG27 crash that it "exploded and crashed", so that seems to best fit your description of the wreckage.

Reagrds, Pieter